Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products.
Recycling can benefit your community and the environment.
Although many people know to recycle paper, cans and plastic not many know there are other items that can also be recycled and reused.
E-waste
While there is no generally accepted definition of e-waste, in most cases e-waste consists of expensive and more or less durable products used for data processing, telecommunications or entertainment in private households and businesses.
E-waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones, household appliances and less obvious items such as spent fluorescent tubes, batteries and battery-operated toys that have been discarded by their original users.
E-waste is of concern largely due to the toxicity of some of the substances if processed improperly. The toxicity is due in part to lead, mercury, cadmium and a number of other substances. A typical computer monitor may contain more than six per cent lead by weight. Up to 36 separate chemical elements are incorporated into e-waste items.
It presents difficulties for recycling due to the complexity of each item and lack of viable recycling systems. Many of the plastics used in electronic equipment contain flame retardants. These are generally halogens added to the plastic resin, making the plastics difficult to recycle.
E-waste is both valuable as a source for secondary raw material, and toxic if handled and discarded improperly. Rapid technology changes, low initial cost and even planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast growing problem of stockpiled e-waste that are mismanaged around the globe.
Used oil
Some base oils are so pure that they allow the lubricants marketer to make up long-life lubricants for use in turbines. Other base oils are very viscous and allow a thick film formation for lubricating very heavily loaded open gears or large gearboxes.
Base oils derived from crude oil may be classed as either paraffinic or naphthenic depending on their composition.
In South Africa reprocessing used oil into industrial fuel is commercially attractive. The reprocessed product is sold as a substitute for heavy fuel oil that is derived from crude oil.
The combustion efficiency should destroy all the harmful components in the used oil. Several treatment processes are used in South Africa:
- Mechanical separation of contaminants by filtration and centrifuging.
- Chemical separation to remove unwanted components.
- Thermal refining to improve the quality of the fuel.
For more information about recycling and where you can find a recycling centre visit www.recycling.co.za.
Also read:Â Why you should recycle
Greening living offers rewarding experience
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